Annex A trade

The majority of trade in Annex A taxa was captive-produced or artificially propagated with key commodities exported including plant seeds, live plants and live reptiles. The vast majority of Annex A trade was for commercial purposes. Trade in Annex A species reported as pre-Convention involved ivory and timber carvings. The following section provides details of ivory carvings as this commodity is predominately pre-Convention rather than captive-produced.

Commodities by group (re-)exported by EU Member States at quantities greater than 1000 units in 2014, ordered by quantity (as reported by (re-)exporters). Quantities have been rounded to whole numbers. Trade for scientific purposes (purpose ‘S’) is excluded.

Group

Commodity

Quantity (re-)exported

Main source

Main purpose

No. taxa involved

Main taxa

[l]Plants

[l]seeds

[r]29 855

[l]A (89%)

[l]T (100%)

[r]22

[r][i]Ariocarpus retusus[/i] (29%)

[l]Plants

[l]live

[r]13 980

[l]A (95%)

[l]No purpose specified (56%)

[r]89

[r]Paphiopedilum spp. (Venus slipper orchid; 59%)

[l]Reptiles

[l]live

[r]11 702

[l]C (>99%)

[l]T (99%)

[r]18

[r][i]Testudo hermanni[/i] (Hermann’s tortoise; 87%)

[l]Birds

[l]live

[r]8959

[l]C (93%)

[l]T (95%)

[r]87

[r][i]Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae[/i] (Red-crowned parakeet; 23%)

[l]Mammals

[l]ivory carvings

[r]8 060

[l]O (95%)

[l]T (80%)

[r]3

[r][i]Loxodonta africana[/i] (African elephant; 71%)

[l]Reptiles

[l]leather products (small)

[r]4432

[l]D (99%)

[l]T (99%)

[r]5

[r][i]Crocodylus porosus[/i] (Salt water crocodile; 42%)

[l]Plants

[l]powder (kg)

[r]1869

[l]D (100%)

[l]T (100%)

[r]1

[r][i]Saussurea costus[/i] (Kuth; 100%)

[l]Mammals

[l]ivory carvings (kg)

[r]1 745

[l]O (100%)

[l]T (80%)

[r]3

[r][i]Loxodonta africana[/i] (African elephant; 100%)

[l]Reptiles

[l]skins

[r]1389

[l]D (95%)

[l]T (100%)

[r]4

[r][i]Crocodylus siamensis[/i] (Siamese crocodile; 83%)

[l]Timber

[l]carvings

[r]1144

[l]O (>99%)

[l]T (82%)

[r]2

[r][i]Dalbergia nigra[/i] (Brazilian rosewood; >99%)

Ivory carvings

Over 8 000 ivory carvings (including trade reported as Elephantidae spp., Loxodonta africana and Elephas maximus) were exported by the EU in 2014, the majority for commercial purposes (80%). Nearly all trade in ivory carvings was reported as pre-Convention (95%) with the remainder reported as unknown source, wild-sourced or no source was specified. Asia was the main region of destination of exports of ivory carvings (65%); China was the top individual destination country, accounting for 56% of exports.

(Re-)export of ivory carvings by EU Member States in 2014, by CITES region of destination and source (n=8059.5). Other includes source unknown and no source specified. 686 ivory carvings were (re-) exported to unknown countries.

The main EU (re-)exporter of ivory carvings was the United Kingdom (73%). More than 99% of ivory carvings were re-exports; the origin of most re-exports was reported as unknown (89%).

In addition to trade in ivory carvings reported in number of items, the (re-)export of 1745 kg of ivory carvings was also recorded, all of which was pre-Convention. Asia was the main region of destination of these exports (90%); with Japan and Vietnam principal destination markets (46% and 43% of all exports respectively).

A total of 8064 carvings of Loxodonta africana (African elephant), Elephas maximus (Asian elephant), and Elephantidae spp. (combined) were (re-)exported by the EU in 2014 representing a 28% decrease over the quantities re-exported in 2013.

EU-reported (re-)exports of elephant carvings, by taxa, 2010-2014.

Live reptiles were the only Annex A commodity (re-)exported at over 1 000 units by candidate countries. Candidate countries reported the export of 18 320 live reptiles in 2014, all of which were captive-bred for commercial purposes. Trade in Annex A live reptiles comprised Testudo graeca (Spur-thighed tortoise), T. hermanni (Hermann’s tortoise) and T. marginata (Marginated tortoise). FYR Macedonia was the main exporter of live reptiles (70%), one third of which were exported to Hong Kong, SAR.